The owner of a barbershop along Route 12B attempted to commit suicide Saturday afternoon by shooting himself in the parking lot outside his establishment, according to police.

Jess Bridenbecker, 53, of Cassville, shot himself in the stomach with a .22-caliber rifle at about 3 p.m. Saturday outside Jess’s Barbershop at 83 Clinton Road, New Hartford police said.

The establishment shares a building with a dog-grooming salon and is a short distance from the former New York Pizzeria & Deli.

Bridenbecker was alone at the time, and there were no witnesses to the shooting, Sgt. Robert Philo said.

When Bridenbecker reported the shooting, he initially told 911 dispatchers that he had accidentally shot himself, Philo said. After further investigation, however, Bridenbecker acknowledged he was trying to commit suicide.

“When the gunshot only resulted in injury, he realized that he needed help so he called 911,” Philo said. “It was first reported as an accidental shooting, but then it became quite obvious it was a suicide attempt when we connected the dots.”

Bridenbecker was treated at the scene by paramedics and transported to St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica before he was transferred to University Hospital in Syracuse, Philo said.

He was listed in serious condition Tuesday afternoon, officials at the medical center said.

While police would not say exactly what motivated Bridenbecker’s attempt on his own life, Philo did say the shooting had nothing to do with his barbershop business. The shop was closed for the day at the time of the shooting.

“It was just personal issues outside of business that were creating a lot of stress for him,” Philo said.